1. Congestion: Male brings the centre of all economic activity and the hub of telecommunications, transport, health and education, there is a tendency of the youth to migrate to Male in search for jobs and other opportunities. This congestion creates a big strain on the Island’s infrastructure.

2. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Maldives is no exception to the problem being born to the social and environmental sector. The government is taking all necessary measures to educate its citizens on the harmful impacts of GMOs.

3. Wasteland Management: The Islands have a few but significant wetlands and mangroves. The mangrove ecosystems shelter several endemic species which have not been studied thoroughly.

4. Protections of Conserved Areas: Most diving instructors are local youth who are aware of their responsibility to protect their environment. The coral gardens are the most priced marine resources and the most vulnerable. Corals usually cover vast areas and therefore make it more difficult to protect.

5. Resource Management: Maldives have limited resources that consist of only fish and a natural beauty. The youth have realized that the stewardship of their local environment has been passed on to them. It is being instilled in the youth that they are the ones who are supposed to sustain their resources in the future

6. Asian Brown Cloud: It is predicted that the cloud would cause immeasurable damage

7. Coral Mining: Coral mining is one of the basic sources of revenue for the country. Mining is designated to certain areas and is now a dying trade.

8. Global warming and rise of the sea-level: As an Island, Maldives is highly vulnerable to even the slightest rise in the sea level. The seven vulnerable areas to climate change are land loss, beach erosion, infrastructure damage, coral reef damage, impact on the economy, food security, and human health.

9. Pollution: Air pollution in Male is a transboundary problem. The fume emissions that have traveled from other neighboring countries.

10. Use of plastics: There is a huge amount of plastic that is being imported into the country as it modernizes. There are several public awareness campaigns that have been carried out to ban plastic bags. Alternatives are being offered which some communities are adopting. Some shopkeepers have started using paper bags.

Status of youth:
Youth account for 29% of the total population. The youth play the most active in promoting sustainable development and tourism related issues. Although there is no NGO that focuses on the Youth and Environment, almost all organizations have a youth and environment component. The government of Maldives is most keen to promote awareness amongst the youth on the stakes they hold as the future generations. The Ministry of Youth and Sports has a special body, National Association of Youth NGOs that enhances and facilitates the involvement of youth organization in the sustainable development activities. There is concern among officials that much needs to be done to educate the rural youth in matters concerning environmentally related problems.

Contact
National Focal Point
Name of the organization: Bluepeace
Contact Person for SAYEN: MOHAMED SHUJAU
Email:  shujaau@gmail.com
Website: www.bluepeacemaldives.org

Address
M. Roma, Gandhakoalhi Magu, Malé, Republic of Maldives.
Tel: (off) 00960 323135, Fax: 00960 327808, 00960 328394
Handphone: 00960 755717, Res: 00960 325717